St John's Church, Wellington

St John's Church
St John's Presbyterian Church in 2015
Map
41°17′27.43″S 174°46′24.01″E / 41.2909528°S 174.7733361°E / -41.2909528; 174.7733361
Location166–176 Willis Street, Wellington
CountryNew Zealand
DenominationPresbyterian
History
Dedicated11 December 1885
Architecture
Architect(s)Thomas Turnbull
StyleGothic architecture
Years built1885
Designated18 March 1982
Reference no.228

St John's Church in Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand, is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 Historic Place. Designed by Thomas Turnbull, it opened on 11 December 1885 to replace an earlier church destroyed by fire in 1884.[1][2] It was registered as a historic place on 18 March 1982, with registration number 228.[3]

The church was built in kauri, totara and rimu by James Wilson. When new in 1885 it could seat 540 people, plus 240 in the gallery.[2] A bell was installed in the spire, and supposedly would be able to be heard at Petone beach if the wind was right.[4] Alterations were made to the church in 1904, and in 1953 Malcolm Bennie designed a porch as a memorial commemorating the centennial of the church.[5] The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2003.[6] The church had earthquake-strengthening done in 2013.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Disastrous Fire: Total Destruction of St John's Church". New Zealand Times. 10 May 1884. Retrieved 14 July 2021 – via Paperspast.
  2. ^ a b "St John's Presbyterian Church". New Zealand Mail. 11 December 1885. Retrieved 14 July 2021 – via Paperspast.
  3. ^ "St John's Church". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  4. ^ "[untitled]". New Zealand Times. 3 October 1885. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  5. ^ Kernohan, David (1994). Wellington's Old Buildings. Wellington, New Zealand: Victoria University Press. p. 105. ISBN 0-86473-267-8.
  6. ^ Harris, Caroline (23 October 2003). "Spirituality and the City". Dominion Post. Retrieved 14 July 2021 – via Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream.
  7. ^ Donoghue, Tim (2 August 2013). "Church Welcomes Brothers in Alms". Dominion Post. p. A 5. Retrieved 14 July 2021 – via Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream.

Media related to St John's Church, Wellington at Wikimedia Commons


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